Rebuilt Johnson a key, says Lillee

Sports Writer

Back in gear: Mitchell Johnson is in the next phase of his career. Photo: Getty Images

DENNIS Lillee argues Mitchell Johnson can be a vital cog in Australia's Ashes machine next year, having steered him back to Test cricket following a year on the outer.

The legendary paceman broke his silence on his mentoring of Johnson on Saturday, saying he had implored the 31-year-old to radically alter his game and bowl smarter and more accurately.

Johnson is making his Test return for Australia at the WACA Ground, having not featured since last year's two-Test tour of South Africa.

He claimed two wickets in the Proteas' first innings and looked far less erratic than he had become by the end of his previous stint in the Australian team.

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While there is an array of options for selectors to consider ahead of next winter's tour of England - the likes of Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus, James Pattinson, Patrick Cummins and Mitchell Starc will all be in the queue - Lillee believes Johnson can play a key role in Australia's attack. ''He's finally decided that he's going to that second phase as a fast bowler and that's one that he's not going to blast guys out,'' Lillee told ABC Radio.

''He's going to bowl some variety, he's going to concentrate on a really good line and length and sort of play that support role a bit more. I thought the way he's bowled so far in [the Sheffield] Shield and the way he bowled in this Test is an indication that he's on song with all that, and he's happy in his mind about that.

''You haven't seen any of the balls going wide of off stump, wide of leg stump. There is some technical work we've done with him, but it's also about him being convinced he's going to that second phase.''